Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2243’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Catharanthus  plant having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season, great profusion of single, red-pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time and deeply bitten petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

Botanical designation: Catharanthus roseus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suncatha 2243’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant, which is hereinafter referred to by the name of ‘Suncatha 2243’.

Catharanthus roseus, which is also known as Vinca rosea, is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer and autumn season.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain a new Catharanthus cultivar having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season, great profusion of single, red-pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time and irregularly incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

The new Catharanthus plant was originated from a cross-pollination of the female parent ‘MC21-52’ and the male parent ‘MC21-5’. The female parent ‘MC21-52’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having pink petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having deep purple petals. The cross-pollination was conducted in August, 2011 at Yame-gun, Fukuoka, Japan.

In February 2012, the seedlings obtained by the crossing were planted in field, and some seedlings were selected in view of growth habit, flower size and color thereof. In August 2012, the stem tip culturing was carried out, and then the propagation was started.

In July 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Daiichi-MC21-41’ and ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Catharanthus plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is currently known, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics.

The new variety of Catharanthus roseus plant is named ‘Suncatha 2243’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is unlike any Catharanthus plants commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Vigorous, upright plant characteristics.     -   2. Abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed         from the base of the plant throughout the growing season.     -   3. Great profusion of single, red-pink flowers, the whole bush         remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.     -   4. Irregularly incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2243’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-MC21-41’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 25151; the application date: Aug. 31, 2010; the registration number 21646; the registration date: Mar. 19, 2012), in the following points.

-   -   1. The petals overlap of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is contacting. That of         ‘Daiichi-MC21-41’ is separating.     -   2. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2243’         is red-pink (RHS 60D). That of ‘Daiichi-MC21-41’ is RED-PURPLE         (RHS 61C).

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2243’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 26287; the application date: Sep. 8, 2011 ; the registration number 22599; the registration date: Jul. 29, 2013), in the following points.

-   -   1. The leaf size (L×W) of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is 50.2 mm×20 mm. The         leaf size of ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is 60 mm×33 mm.     -   2. The flower diameter of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is 32.1 mm. That of         ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is 40 mm.     -   3. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2243’         is red-pink (RHS 60D). That of ‘MC21-25’ is purple (RHS N80B).

This new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2243’ was asexially reproduced by the use of cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, and homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and produces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during October 2013 while growing outdoors in wall pots with about 15 cm of container size at an age of approximately 6 months.

The second sheet is a photograph of a typical plant of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2243’ while growing in a pot.

The first sheet is a photograph of a close view of flowers of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2243’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In October 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The average day temperature was about 25° C., and the average night temperature was about 15° C. The plants were grown under natural sunlight. The number of days to flowering (response time) was about 3 to 4 weeks. The keeping quality was about 180 days. The plants had temperature resistance to about 5° C. (the lowest temperature) and about 35 to 40° C. (the highest temperature). Further, the plants had the same tolerance to pests and pathogens as a typical Catharanthus plant.

For the parentage information: The female parent ‘MC21-52’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having pink petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2243’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having deep purple petals.

For the propagation information: the new cultivar was propagated by cutting; the number of days to initiate roots during the summer was about two weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the summer was around 30° C.; the number of days to initiate roots during the winter was about three weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the winter was around 25° C.; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the summer was about five weeks; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the winter was about six weeks; root density was moderate; root branching was free; root color was white; and root texture was fibrous.

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2243’ at an age of approximately 4 months are shown in the following Table. In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart The 5th edition 2007).

PLANT VARIETY DESCRIPTION APPLICATION VARIETY CHARACTERISTIC Suncatha 2243 ANNUAL, BIENNIAL or PERENNIAL? Grown as annual. TYPE OF PLANT: i.e., TREE, Potted plant SHRUB, SUBSHRUB, VINE, CUT FLOWER, POTTED PLANT APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS +/or Ideal for pots, hanging CROPPING SYSTEM basket. GROWTH HABIT Upright PLANT HEIGHT About 23.0 cm PLANT DIAMETER OR AREA OF About 23.0 cm SPREAD PLANT VIGOR Vigorous BRANCHING HABIT Freely branching BASAL BRANCHING? Present PINCHING REQUIRED? Not required. NUMBER OF LATERAL BRANCHES About 5 NUMBER OF SECONDARY LATERAL About 4 BRANCHES LATERAL BRANCH LENGTH About 14.5 cm LATERAL BRANCH DIAMETER About 4.1 mm INTERNODE LENGTH About 20.9 mm STEM ASPECT Upright to outward STEM COLOR (and bark color, if RHS Near 144D applicable) STEM COLOR (if any) RHS Near 187C STEM PUBESCENCE? Present, few OTHER PLANT/STEM — CHARACTERISTICS LEAF ARRANGEMENT Opposite COMPOUND OR SIMPLE? Simple QUANTITY OF LEAVES PER About 16 LATERAL BRANCH LEAF (LEAFLET) SHAPE Oblong LEAF (LEAFLET) TIP Acute LEAF (LEAFLET) BASE Obtuse LEAF LENGTH About 50.2 mm LEAF WIDTH About 20.0 mm LEAF THICKNESS About 0.3 mm LEAF (LEAFLET) TEXTURE Pubescent, both sides LEAF PUBESCENCE? WHICH SIDE? Present LEAF (LEAFLET) MARGIN Entire VENATION PATTERN Reticulate venation LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 137C LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 137D LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near N137A LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Naer 137D VENATION COLOR, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 144C VENATION COLOR, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 144D VARIEGATION? Absent PETIOLE? Present PETIOLE LENGTH About 5.9 mm PETIOLE DIAMETER About 1.5 mm PETIOLE TEXTURE Pubescent PETIOLE COLOR RHS Near 144C OTHER FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS — FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Borne in upper leaf axils. INFLORESCENCE TYPE OR FORM Solitary (if applicable) QUANTITY OF FLOWERS PER PLANT About 50 FLOWER TYPE or FORM Single FLOWERING HABIT Continuously NATURAL FLOWERING SEASON Early summer to late autumn TIME TO FLOWER OR RESPONSE TIME About 2~3 weeks FRAGRANCE Absent FLOWER BUD LENGTH About 33.8 mm FLOWER BUD DIAMETER About 4.4 mm FLOWER BUD SHAPE Ovoid FLOWER BUD COLOR RHS Near 58A FLOWER ASPECT; i.e., UPRIGHT, Upright OUTWARD, DROOPING, etc. FLOWER PARACOROLLA Absent FLOWER DIAMETER About 32.1 mm FLOWER DEPTH (HEIGHT) About 41.9 mm FLOWER LONGEVITY ON PLANT About 2~3 days PERSISTENT OR SELF-CLEANING? Not persistent. PETAL TEXTURE, UPPER SURFACE Smooth PETAL TEXTURE, LOWER SURFACE Smooth TUBE TEXTURE Smooth, pubescent few PETAL ARRANGEMENT Free PETAL NUMBER 5 PETALS FUSED? Fused PETAL SHAPE Hastate PETAL MARGIN Absent PETAL SHAPE, SYMMETRY OR Asymmetry ASYMMETRY? PETAL TIP irregulary incised PETAL BASE Fused PETAL LENGTH About 15.4 mm PETAL WIDTH About 13.2 mm PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING, RHS Near 60B UPPER SIDE PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING, RHS Near 59D LOWER SIDE PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, RHS Near 60D UPPER SIDE PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, RHS Near 63B to 63C LOWER SIDE Having lines. FLOWER EYE Absent FlOWER EYE DIAMETER — FlOWER EYE COLOR — RECEPTACLE Present RECEPTACLE COLOR RHS Near 3C TUBE DIAMETER About 1.7 mm TUBE LENGTH About 26.5 mm THROAT COLOR (inside) RHS Near 145C TUBE COLOR (outside) Upper of tube: RHS Near 166A Throat: RHS Near 144C Near receptacle: RHS Near 178B SEPAL ARRANGEMENT Single whorl NUMBER OF SEPALS 5 SEPAL SHAPE Linear-triangular SEPAL MARGIN Entire SEPAL TIP Acute SEPAL BASE Fused SEPAL LENGTH About 3.2 mm SEPAL WIDTH About 1.0 mm SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UPPER RHS Near 144A SIDE SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UNDER RHS Near 144A SIDE SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UPPER RHS Near 144A SIDE SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UNDER RHS Near 144A SIDE CALYX SHAPE Star shape CALYX LENGTH About 4.5 mm CALYX DIAMETER About 4.9 mm PEDUNCLE LENGTH About 4.5 mm PEDUNCLE DIAMETER About 1.7 mm PEDUNCLE ANGLE Upright PEDUNCLE TEXTURE Smooth, pubescent few PEDUNCLE COLOR RHS Near 144C STAMEN NUMBER 5 STAMEN LENGTH About 2.8 mm ANTHER SHAPE Narrow elliptic ANTHER SIZE (L) About 2.6 mm ANTHER SIZE (W) About 1.2 mm ANTHER COLOR RHS Near 1C AMOUNT OF POLLEN Few POLLEN COLOR RHS Near 8D PISTIL NUMBER 1 PISTIL LENGTH About 22.6 mm STIGMA SHAPE Transversely ellipsoidal STIGMA COLOR RHS Near 138C STYLE COLOR RHS Near 145C OVARY COLOR RHS Near 144B OTHER FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS — QUANTITY OF SEEDS Seeds production has not been observed. ROOT STRUCTURES such as BULBS, Fibrous root CORMS or RHIZOMES? LOW TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around 5° C. HIGH TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around 35° C.~40° C. DISEASE RESISTANCE AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY RESISTANCE OF PESTS AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY

This new variety of Catharanthus plant having the above botanical characteristics is suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters. 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2243’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 